Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-06-17

%, % gcad while he chntted with
sInOtLer' moment. added 10 the chaos
and the unwashcd churu, also from the
nilk-celiar, with dasher and ladle and
dripping municipalities tilted across its
top, waiting for slose same tirplcss mother
hands and hot water added not little
to the disOiderly state OF a.faiIs: and the
overturned box Of red belLpeppers in the
open window, with dirt sitting along the
ledge and across the fioor-the combined
work of n hungry foraging hen and the
June breeze-nelped IN the clutter; and a
big slOp by the sink and train Of little
slops across the floor leading from the
well to the WATERFALL rest on the sink
board tod even big Rover. as he indig-
nantly lifted his clumsy feet from the
slops TO track them across the bell-pepper's
dirt-sitting over the floor, that careless
Fred had for once brought his mother O
pail Of water.
But this patient, eyer-busy mother,
where was sho2
A pile of pie-plates fianking the heaped
pan of -four on the long kitchen table, an
other pan of prepared pumpkin and bowls
of 'miXing" and cream, gave promise that
toothsOmc pumpkin pies We're under way.
The cellar-door standing open, and the big
dinner-pot jalring its iron cover with i'm.
pIisoned steam, and flank of corned
beef over the hot stove, nOisily testified
that tie house mother was in the cellar
foragirg for vegetables.
81 should think mother would stifle,
working all the forenoon in this swelterine
kitchenr' Lottie exclaimed, reaching for
her sun umbrella that hung on the wall.
"Bctter help her by putting the kitchen
to rights" whispered the little voice that
sometimes gives an unpleasant jog to our
thoughts. "You viii have plenty of time
before school, ard only think Of the su,
prise and pleasure it would give herp
A little scowl came between Lottie's
pretty blue eyes. dts not my work to
wash the milk-dishes, nor is it my fault i!
the kitchen is all in a clutter. / am sure
put it in apple-pie order not an hour
ago"-the little foot poised over the plank
| door step.
"For even Christ pleased not himself"
Why should that Scripture passage
flash in mind just then?-the days verse
on the little bright-colored calendar thai
hung just under the clock. Lottie had
read it with quick glance as she paused
in her busting to tear off yesterdays leaf
"But it is so sitting hot here, and l nave
hurried all morning to finish my work,
that | might walk to school before the sun
gets scorching high in the heavens; be.
SIDES mother doesn't expect me to hell
her"
"Then give her pleasant surprise as
well as rest, by setting the kitchen in
order before she comes ill.," bUzzCd the
little voice close at hand.
"Pleased not Himself"
The red letters of tho 7lea6ar seemed
to glow before L11t11I1S eyes, but it wasn't
It was only those red bell-peppers that had
| topplcd on to the floor from the window
| sIl.
"Ill do it. Mother will have her hands
| full with the vegetables and pies and the
dinner. It's pity l am not willing to
| give her little extra lift in the work now
and then"
The shade hat went up on a nail with q
| toss; off came the dainty cuffs and tiny
ruff1ed apron, and in place-broadly COW
ering the neat school suit-went on her
| big checked apron.
81 hope mother will dress the vegetables
| before she comes into the kitchen, and
then l shall have plenty of time to
stralghten things before she sees It,"
thought Lottie, softly latching the cellar
door, that the clatter Of pans and whsk
of broom might not reach her mothers
ears.
| A shadow fell acoss the kitchen window
and looking up Lottie saw her mother
carrying from the roll-way a basket Of
vegetables carefully selected from last
years sand-packed supplies to the COO
shade of the lilac trees in the back yard
there to dress them for the dinner-pot.
Broom and dish-cloth, wing ard dust
pan-how they flew that next half houri
The warped forkcd hand Of the OLD
clock pointed the quarter to nine before
the iaunty sun-hat came down ard Lotti'
lightly tripped through the red-frameC
doorway Of the kitchen on her way Il
school.
A little later in the day, deep in thu
intricacies of geometry and the bewilder
ing dates of history, in the cooler temper
allure of the breezy school-room, out 0
mind went the remembrance of he
| mornings kindness. Only once sh
thought of it, and that was in the nool
hour when little johnny Andrews conf
dentially whispered to class-mate tina
ana is going to have billed dish TO
supper"
I4ottie smiled, thinking of the vegetable
she had seen losing their rough coats il
the shadows of the lilac trees that morn
ing, and, 81 wonder what mother salt
when she came in and found the revolu
ton in her kitchen" was the thought tina
set her bright eyes dancing us she Passet
to her desk
"Dcar CHI ldl God bless the dear child!
was just what her mother said as sh
entered the kitchen, heated and tired
YEARLY thinking Of the work that must b
met before noon.
Oh, it was such help, ard so restfu
for that hurried, discouraged mother t.
find her kitchen in order, her sink cleaIct
OF its stack of milk! ans.
"The dear, dear childm IOttie littt
knew how often she was in her mother
thoughts that day, and how her loving at
tempt to lift q buden from her mothe
set little bird singing in that heart al
day as she tOiled; for love lightens labor
and these mothers never forget, neve
oyeflock or cease to hunger for expires
sions of love and sympathy from the dea
ones of their household unto whom the,
minister increasingly and uncomplain
ingly but in many and many home, al
too late, this lovingly expressed sympath,
and tender care comes.
When the tired feet are still, the hand
crossed in strange wilderness and idleness
the sweet lips, that never before in all on
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